Math 6A ( Periods 2 & 5)

 Subtracting Integers 11-3

The life story about someone who was so negative-- you wanted to take a little negativity away but since you can't do that you add a little positiveness-- works in math as well!!
Instead of subtracting ... "ADD THE OPPOSITE!"
We will prove it in class with our little red and yellow tiles... If you need to review, make your own out of red and yellow paper-- or whatever colors you want!!

In life-- to take away a little negative-- add some positive

To take away an integer... add its opposite.

Rule from our textbook
for all integers a and b

a - b = a + (the opposite of b) or
a - b = a + (-b)

Instead of subtracting.. "ADD THE OPPOSITE"
make sure you do the "check, check" ... you need to have two check marks... one changing the subtraction to addition and the other changing the sign of the 2nd number to its opposite.
NEVER TOUCH the sign of the first number

5 - ^- 2=
5 + ⁺ 2= 7

-2 - 5 =
- 2 + ^- 5 =
before I give you the answer look... we are looking at
-2 + ^-5
We are adding two negatives.. so we are back to the rules from Section 11-2...
when adding the same sign just add the number and use their sign so
- 2 + ^- 5 = -7

But what about -2 - ^-5 ?
adding the opposite, we get
-2 + ⁺ 5 .
Now, the signs are different so the rule from Section 11-2 is
ask yourself... "Who wins?" and "By how much?"

Okay, here the positive wins so I know the answer will be +
and by how much means.. to take the difference
5-2 = 3
so -2 + ⁺ 5 = +3
Do you need to put the + sign? No, but I like to in the beginning to show that I checked WHO WON!!

What about
-120 - ^-48?
add the opposite
-120 + ⁺ 48 follows the
Different signs rule... so
ask yourself
Who wins? answer: the negative.. so I know the answer will be negative..
And "By How Much?" take the difference 120-48 = 72
so
-120 + ⁺ 48 = -72
or

-120 - 48
-120 + (-48) = -168

NEVER EVER CHANGE THE FIRST NUMBER'S SIGN!!

WALK THE LINE, the number line-- that is!!
Remember... Attitude is such a little thing... but it makes a BIG difference!!
Always start with a positive attitude!!
When you walk the line, Which way are you always facing when you start???

Always attempt to get everything into addition so we can follow the rules of Section 11-2 Adding Integers.
1) SAME SIGN rule---> just add the numbers and use their sign
-4 + -5 = -9
2) DIFFERENT SIGNS rule
ask yourself those 2 important questions
a) Who wins? (answer is either negative or positive)
b) By how much? (Take the difference)

-15 + 7 -15 - 4 - 7
What do you see?
I see one zero pair... so cross them out!
left with -15 -15 -14 -7
WOW-- they are all negative so just add them and use their sign ( rule from Adding Integers!)

Some good strategies to follow:
1. Look at the problem
2. Make sure to write the problem down correctly
3. Change to an addition problem by  "ADD the OPPOSITE"
4. Look for ZERO PAIRS ( cross them out)
5. Add like signs ( add all the positives together; add all the negatives together)
6. Take the difference
7. Work across from left to right!